Why is Ozone a Public Health Problem?
Ozone is a severe irritant. It is responsible for the choking, coughing, and stinging eyes associated with smog. Ozone damages lung tissue, aggravates respiratory disease, and makes people more susceptible to respiratory infections. Children are especially vulnerable to ozone’s harmful effects, as are adults with existing disease. But even otherwise healthy individuals may experience impaired health from breathing ozone-polluted air. Elevated ozone levels also inhibit plant growth and can cause widespread damage to crops and forests. Unhealthy ozone levels are a problem across the United States, with about 90 cities exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). The standard is based on the highest ozone exposure sensitive persons can tolerate. Nine cities, home to 57 million people, are considered “severely” polluted and experience peak ozone levels that exceed the standard by 50% or more.
